Man missing after attempting to rescue dog from ocean near Orick

ORICK- A 20 year-old man went missing after attempting to rescue his dog from the ocean near Orick.

Authorities responded to the mouth of Redwood Creek at about 5 p.m. on Tuesday for a report of a man getting swept away by the surf.

Emergency personnel say the man went in to rescue his dog after seeing the animal in distress. He was last seen getting pulled south by the current. The U.S. Coast Guard, Sheriff’s Office, CAL FIRE and other agencies assisted in the search.

Law enforcement says you should never go in rough waters to rescue an animal.

"The dog in this situation self rescued and the majority of the time, the animals self rescue, without the need of human assistance. It's very dangerous to go in after an animal in rough conditions, whether on a river or an ocean entrance just because of currents. Animals are more likely to be able to pull themselves out in this situation than a human being would be able to," said Sgt. Kerry Ireland with the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office.